Four Jaguars starters will be free agents

The Jaguars announced Tuesday that nine players, including four starters and long snapper Joe Zelenka, will become unrestricted free agents when the free-agent signing period begins Feb. 27.
The starters whose contracts are expiring are safety Gerald Sensabaugh, middle linebacker Mike Peterson, left tackle Khalif Barnes and center Brad Meester.
Of the four, only Meester appears to have a chance to return if he can't find a good deal in free agency and is willing to take a reduced salary.
Barnes and Peterson, who lost his starting job during the season after a confrontation with coach Jack Del Rio, then regained it when Daryl Smith was injured, no longer appear to be in the team's plans.
Sensabaugh had a solid season, but he's likely to receive a higher offer in the open market than the Jaguars are willing to pay him.
Wide receiver Reggie Williams, a first-round draft pick in 2004, also is not likely to be in the Jaguars' plans.
That would mean the first two first-round draft picks of the James "Shack" Harris and Jack Del Rio regime - quarterback Byron Leftwich and Williams - won't be on the team in 2009. Harris resigned just before the end of the season and was replaced by Gene Smith, who received the general manager's title Monday.
The other players whose contracts are expiring are guard Chris Naeole, who was signed on Sept. 17, but didn't play because he suffered a broken hand in pregame warmups Oct. 25; defensive back Scott Starks, who spent the season on injured reserve; and defensive back Pierson Prioleau.
Zelenka could return for the veteran minimum ($845,000 for a 10-year player), but he could be vulnerable in camp if the Jaguars find a younger, cheaper alternative.
The Jaguars are allowed to re-sign any of the players before free agency begins and can continue to negotiate with them after they hit the market.
The deadline for clubs to designate franchise and transition players is Feb. 19, and free agency starts eight days later. The Jaguars aren't expected to put the franchise or transition tags on any players. The team also can start making trades on Feb. 27.
Teams might be more cautious in free agency this season because it will be the start of the last capped year, and new accounting rules on how teams must count money under the salary cap will be in place.
The idea is to prevent teams from dumping a lot of money into 2010, which will be an uncapped year if the owners and players don't reach a new collective bargaining agreement before next March.
Assistant leaves for Seattle
Robert Prince was hired Tuesday as the Seattle Seahawks' wide receivers coach. He worked with new Seahawks coach Jim Mora Jr. in Atlanta and San Francisco. Prince was the Jaguars' assistant wide receivers coach for the past two seasons. His departure leaves five openings on Del Rio's staff.
vito.stellino@jacksonville.com,(904) 359-4279